Chapter the Second

The Office of Vespers, or Evensong, consists firstly of the five following psalms. For certain feasts some of these psalms are changed for others, which are more appropriate to those occasions.

After the Pater and Ave have been said in secret, the Church commences this Hour with her favourite supplication :

Deus, in adjutorium ^ . Incline unto my aid, O meum intends. God.

1$. Domine, ad adjuvan* 1$. O Lord, make haste to dum me festina. help me.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Glory be to the Father, and

Spiritui sancto. to the Son, and to the Holy

Ghost.

Sicut erat in principio, et As it was in the beginning, nunc, et semper, et in sse- is now, and ever shall be, cula sseculorum. Amen. world without end. Amen.

Alluluia. Alleluia.

Ant. Dixit Dominus. Ant. The Lord said.

The first psalm is a prophecy of the future glory of the Messias. The Son of David shall sit on the right hand of the heavenly Father. He is King; He is priest ; He is Son of Man, and Son of God. His enemies will attack Him, but He will crush them. He will be humbled ; but this voluntary humiliation will lead Him to highest glory*

PSALM 109

Dixit Dominus Domino meo : * Sede a dextris meis.

Donee ponam inimicos tuos: * scabellum pedum tuorum.

Virgam virtutis tu» emittet Dominus ex Sion : * dominare in medio inimicorum tuorum.

Tecum principium in die virtutis tu« in splendoribus sanctorum : * ex utero ante luciferum genui te.

Juravit Dominus, et non poenitebit eum : * Tu es Sacerdos in seternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech.

Dominus a dextris tuis : * conf regit in die irae suae reges.

Judicabit in nationibus, imptebit ruinas : * conquassabit capita in terra multorum.

De torrente in via bibet : * propterea exaltabit caput.

Ant. Dixit Dominus Domino meo: sede a dextris meis.

Ant. Fidelia.

The Lord said to my Lord, his Son: Sit thou at my right hand, and reign with me.

Until, qn the day of thy last coming, I make thy enemies thy footstool.

0 Christ! the Lord thy Father will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion : from thence rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength, in the brightness of the saints : For the Father hath said to thee: From the womb before the day-star I begot thee.

The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent : he hath said, speaking to thee the God' Man; Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

Therefore, 0 Father, the Lord, thy Son, is at thy right hand : he hath broken kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall also judge among nations : in that terrible coming, he shall fill the ruins of the world: he shall crush the heads in the land of many .

He cometh now in humility. he shall drink in the way of the torrent of suffering: therefore, shall he lift up the head.

Ant. The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand.

Ant. Faithful.

The following psalm commemorates the mercies of God to His people, the promised covenant, the redemption, His fidelity to His word. But it also tells us that the name of the Lord is terrible because it is holy; and concludes by admonishing us, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

PSALM 110

Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo : * in consilio justorum et congregations.

Magna opera Domini: * exquisita in omnes voluntates ejus.

Confessio et magnificentia opus ejus : * et justitia ejus manet in speculum saeculi.

Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum, misericors et miserator Dominus : * escam dedit timentibus se.

Memor erit in saeculum testamenti sui : * virtutem operum suorum annuntiabit populo suo.

Ut det illis haereditatem Gentium: * opera manuum ejus Veritas et judicium.

Fidelia omnia mandata ejus, confirmata in saaculum saeculi : facta in veritate et aequitate.

Redemptionem misit populo ' suo ; * mandavit in seternum testamentum suum.

Sanctum et terribile no-* men ejus : * initium sapientiae timor Domini.

Intellectus bonus omni-

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart : in the counsel of the just, and in the congregation.

Great are the works of the Lord : sought out according to all his wills.

His work is praise and magnificence: and his justice continueth for ever and ever.

He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord : he hath given food to them that fear him.

He will be mindful for ever of his covenant with men : he will show forth to his people the power of his works.

That he may give them his Ckurchythe inheritance of the Gentiles ; the works of his hands are truth and judgment.

All his commandments are faithful, confirmed for ever and ever : made in truth and equity.

He hath sent redemption to his people : he hath thereby commanded his covenant for ever.

Holy and terrible is his name : the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

A good understanding to all bus facientibus eum : * laudatio ejus manet in s»culum Bseculi.

Ant. Fidelia omnia mandata ejus; confirmata in seeculum saeculi.

Ant. In mandatis. that do it: his praise continueth for ever and ever.

Ant. Faithful are all his commandments ; confirmed for ever and ever.

Ant. In his commandments.

The next psalm sings the happiness of the just man, and his hopes on the day of his Lord's coming. It tells us, likewise, of the confusion of the sinner who shall have despised the mysteries of God's love towards mankind. psalm 111

Beatus vir qui timet Dominum : * in mandatis ejus volet nimis.

Potens in terra erit semen ejus : * generatio rectorum benedicetur.

Gloria et diyitiae in domo ejus: et justitia ejus manet in 8»culum saeculi.

Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis : * misericors et miserator, et justus.

Jucundus homo, qui miseretur et commodat, disponet sermones suos in judicio : * quia in seternum non commovebitur.

In memoria seterna erit justus : * ab auditione mala non timebit.

Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino, confirmatum est cor ejus : * non commovebitur donee despiciat inimicos suos.

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

His seed shall be mighty upon earth ; the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.

Glory and wealth shall be in his house : and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.

To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness ; he is merciful, and compassionate, and just.

Acceptable is the man that showeth mercy and lendeth ; he shall order his words with judgment : because he shall not be moved for ever.

The just shall be in everlasting remembrance : he shall not fear the evil hearing.

His heart is ready to hope in the Lord ; his heart is strengthened : he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies.

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He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor ; his justice remaineth for ever and ever : his horn shall be exalted in glory.

The wicked shall see, and shall be angry ; he shall gnash with his teeth and pine away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Ant. In his commandments he delighteth exceedingly.

Ant. May the name of the Lord.

The psalm Laudate pueri is a canticle of praise to the Lord, who, from His high heaven, has taken pity on the human race, and has vouchsafed to honour it by the Incarnation of His own Son.

PSALM 112

Dispersit dedit pauperibus, justitia ejus manet in s&culum saeculi: * cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.

Peccator videbit, et irascetur, dentibus suis fremet et tabescet : * desiderium peccatorum peribit.

Ant. In mandatis ejus cupit nimis. Ant. Sit nomen Domini.

. La,udate, pueri, Dominum : * laudate nomen Domini

Sit nomen Domini benedictum : * ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.

A solis ortu usque ad occasum : * laudabile nomen Domini.

Excelsus t super omnes gentes Dominus : et super coelos gloria ejus.

Quis sicut Dominus Deus noster qui in altis habitat : * et humilia re^picit in coelo et in terra 1

Suscitans a terra inopem : * et de stercore erigens pauperem:

Ut collocet eum cum principibus: * cum principibus populi sui.

Praise the Lord, ye children : praise ye the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord : from henceforth now and for ever.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.

The Lord is high above all nations: and his glory* above the heavens.

Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high: and looketh down on the low things in heaven and inearth!

Raising up the needy from the earth : and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill :

That he may place him with princes: with the princes of his people.

Qui habitare facit sterilem in aomo : * matrem filiorum letantem.

Ant. Sit nomen Domini benedictum in ssecula.

Ant. Nos qui vivimus.

Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children.

Ant. May the name of the Lord be for ever bleased.

Ant. We that live.

The fifth psalm, In exitu, recounts the prodigies witnessed under the ancient Covenant: they were figures, whose realities were to be accomplished in the mission of the Son of God, who came to deliver Israel from Egypt, emancipate the Gentiles from their idolatry, and pour out a blessing on every man who will consent to fear and love the Lord. psalm 113

In exitu Israel de -dEgypto : * domus Jacob de populo barbaro.

Facta est Judaea sanctificatio ejus : * Israel potestas ejus.

Mare vidit et f ugit : * Jordanis converses est retrorsum.

Montes exsultaverunt ut arietes: * et colles sicut agni ovrum.

Quid est tibi, mare, quod fogisti : * et tu, Jordanis, quia conversus es retrorsum]

Montes exsultastis sicut arietes : * et colles sicut agni ovium 1

A facie Domini mota est terra : * a facie Dei Jacob.

Qui convertit petram in «tagna aquarum : * et rupem in f ontes aquarum.

Non nobis, Domine, non

When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people.

Judea was made his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

The sea saw and fled ; Jordan was turned back.

The mountains skipped like rams : and the hills like the lambs of the flock.

What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou didst flee : and thou, O Jordan, that thou wast turned back 1

Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams : and ye hills like lambs of the flock ?

At the presence of the Lord the earth was moved, at the presence of the God of Jacob.

Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stony hills into fountains of waters.

Not to us, O Lord, not to nobis : * sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

Super misericordia tua, et veritate tua : * nequando dicant gentes : Ubi est Deus eorum?

Deus autem noster in coelo : * omnia quaecumque voluit fecit.

Simulacra gentium argentum et aurum : * opera manuum hominum.

Os habent, et non loquentur : * oculos habent, et non videbunt.

Aures habent, et non audient: * nares habent, et non odorabunt.

Manus habent, et non palpabunt ; pedes habent, et non ambulabunt : * non claznabunt in gutture suo.

Similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea : * et omnes qui confidunt in eis.

Domus Israel speravit in Domino: * adjutor eorum et protector eorum est.

Domus Aaron speravit in Domino : * adjutor eorum et protector eorum est.

Qui timent Dominum, eperaverunt in Domino: * adjutor eorum et protector eorum est.

Dominus memor fuit nostri : * et benedixit nobis.

Benedixit domui Israel: * benedixit domui Aaron.

Benedixit omnibus qui timent Dominum : * pusillis cum majoribus.

Adjiciat Dominus super

KRS 43 us : but to thy name give glory.

For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake: lest the Gentiles should say : Where is their God?

But our God is in heaven : he hath done all things whatsoever he would.

The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold : the works of the hands of men.

They have mouths, and speak not : they have eyes, and see not.

They have ears and hear not : they have noses, and smell not.

They have hands, and feel not: they have feet, and walk not: neither shall they cry out through their throat.

Let them that make them become like unto them : and all such as trust in them.

The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.

The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord : he is their helper and their protector.

They that fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord : he is their helper and their protector.

The Lord hath been mindful of us, and hath blessed us.

He hath blessed the house of Israel : he hath blessed the house of Aaron.

He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great.

May the Lord add blessings

TIMS AFTER PENTECOST vos: # super vos, et super filios vestros.

Benedicti vos a Domino: * qui fecit coelum et terrain.

Ccelum cceli Domino: * terrain autem dedit filiis hominum.

Non mortui laudabunt te, Domine : * neque omnes qui descendunt in lufernum.

Sed nos qui vivimus, benedicimus Domino : * ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.

Ant. Nos qui vivimus, benedicimus Domino. upon you: upon you, and upon your children.

Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he has given to the children of men.

The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord : nor any of them that go down to helL

But we that live bless the Lord : from this time now and for ever.

Awt. We that live bless the Lord.

After these five psalms, a short lesson from the holy Scriptures is read. It is called Capitulum, or Little Chapter, because it is always very short. Those for the several festivals are given in the proper of each.

CAPITULUM

(2 Cor. i.)

Benedictus Deus et Pater Blessed be the God and

Domini nostri Jesu Christi, Father of our Lord Jesus

Pater misericordiarum et Christ, the Father of mercies

Deus totius consolationis, and the God of all comfort, qui consolatur nos in omni who comforteth us in all our tribulatione nostra. tribulations.

3. Deo gratia^. Thanks be to God.

Then follows the hymn. We here give the one for Sundavs. It was composed by St. Gregory the Great. It sings of creation, and celebrates the praises of that portion of it which was called forth on this first day, viz., the light.

HYMN*

Lucis Creator optime, Lucem dierum prof erens ; Primordiis lucis novae, Mundi parans originem.

Qui mane junctum vesperi Diem vocari prsecipis : Illabitur tetrum chaos, Audi preces cam fletibus.

Ne mens gravata crimine, Vita sit ex&ul munere : Dam nil perenne cogitat, Seseque culpis illigat.

Coeleste pulset ostium Vitale tollat praemium : Vitemus omne noxium, Forgemus omne pessimum.

Praeata, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum bpiritu Paraclito, Begnans per omne saeculum.

Amen.

O infinitely good Creator of the light ! by thee was produced the light of day, providiogthus the world's beginning with the beginning of the new-made light

Thou biddest us call the time from morn till eve day ; this day is over ; dark night comes on : oh ! hear our tearful prayers.

Let not our soul, weighed down by crime, mis-spend thy gift of life: and, forgetting what is eternal, be earth-tied by her sins.

Oh ! may we strive to enter our heavenly home, and bear away the prize of life : may we shun what would injure us, and cleanse our soul from her defilements.

Most merciful Father ! and thou, his only-begotten Son, coequal with him, reigning for ever, with the holy Paraclete, grant this our prayer*

Amen.

• According to the monastic rite, it is as follows : —

R. breve. Quam magnificata sunt. * Opera tua, Domine. Quam.

• it. Omnia in sapientia fecist£ * Opera. Gloria Patri, &c Quam.

Lucis Creator optime, Luoem dierum proferens ; Primordiis lucis novae/ Mundi paran* originem.

Qui mane junctum vesperi Diem vocari prsecijpis, Tetrum chaos illabitur, Audi preces cum fletibus.

Ne mens gravata crimine, VitfiB sit exsul munere, Dum nil perenne cogitat, Seseque culpis illigat.

Coelorum pulset intimum, Vitale tollat praemium : Vitemus omne noxium, Purge m us omne pessimum.

Praesta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito. Regnans per omne saeculum.

Amen.

The versicle which follows the hymn, and which we here give, is that of the Sunday : those for the feasts are given in their proper places.

^. Dirigatur, Domine, J. May my prayer, O Lord, oratio mea. ascend*

Q. Sicut incensum in J$. Like incense in thy conspectu tuo. sight.

Then is said the Magnificat antiphon, which is to be found in the proper. After this, the Church sings the canticle of Mary, the Magnificat, in which are celebrated the divine maternity and all its consequent blessings. This exquisite canticle is an essential part of the Office of Vespers. It is the evening incense, just as the canticle Benedictus, at Lauds, is that of the morning.

OUR LADY'S CANTICLE (St. Luke, i.)

Magnificat : * anima mea My soul doth magnify the Dominum ; Lord.

Et exsultavit spiritus me- And my spirit hath rejoiced us : * in Deo salutari meo. in God my Saviour.

Quia respexit humilitatern ancillae suae: * ecce enim ex hoc beatam me diomnes generationes . nerations

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all gecent shall call me blessed

Quia fecit mihi magna qui Because he that is mighty potens est: * et sanctum hath done great things to nomen ejus. me : and holy is his name.

Et misericordia ejus a And his mercy is from geprogenie in progenies : * ti- neration unto generation: to mentions eum. them that fear him.

Fecit potentiam in bra- He hath showed might in chio suo : * dispersit super- his arm : he hath dispersed bos mente cordis sui. the proud in the conceit of ?

their heart.

Deposuit potentes de se He hath put down the de : * et exaltavit humiles. mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble.

Esurientes implevit bo- He hath filled the hungry nis : * et divites dimisit ina- with good things : and the nes. rich he hath sent emptyaway.

Suscepit Israel puerum He hath received Israel his suum : * recordatus miseri- servant, being mindful of his cordise suae, mercy.

Sicut locutus est ad pa- As he spoke to our f athers, tres nostros : * Abraham et to Abraham and to his seed semini ejus in saecula. for ever.

The Magnificat antiphon is then repeated. The prayer, or collect, is given in the proper of each feast.

TlT. Benedicamus Domino. Let us bless the Lord.

^. Fidelium animae per J. May the souls of the misericordiam Dei requie- faithful departed, through the

Q. Thanks be to God.